Synthetic Biologyfor Synthetic Drugs and Fuels
Jay KeaslingUniversity of California, Berkeley
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Malaria
NCl
NHH3C
H3C
H3C
Chloroquine-based drugs
Source: Roll Back MalariaWorld Malaria Report 2005
Artemisininthe best anti-malarial drug
O
O
O
OO
H
HH
Current process
Artemisinin
O
O
O
OO
H
HH
Plant synthesis
Purification
Artesunate
O
O
H
H HH
OO
OH
OOH
OO
O
H
H HH
OO
OH
O
OH
ArtelinateArteetherArtemether
O
O
OMe
OO
H
HHO
O
OEt
OO
H
HH
ChemicalConversions
Artemisinin demand analysis
Source: Boston Consulting Group
247 in 2006
Malaria Cases (millions)
GMAP target135 in 2020
Total ACT DemandMillions of treatments
ACTs delivered (actual)
Demand forecasts from other groupsBCG Demand forecast scenarios
ACTs delivered
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Artemisinin price swingsArtemisinin prices($/kg)
Food prices (indexed to Jan 2002)
Artemisininprices
Commodityfood prices
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Source: Boston Consulting Group
Artemisinin supply
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
03 04 05 06 07 08 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Tonnes of Artemisinin
Variable production
Stock from previous yearHistoric production
Demand
Minimum production floor
09
Source: Boston Consulting Group
Current process
Artemisinin
O
O
O
OO
H
HH
Plant synthesis
Purification
Artesunate
O
O
H
H HH
OO
OH
OOH
OO
O
H
H HH
OO
OH
O
OH
ArtelinateArteetherArtemether
O
O
OMe
OO
H
HHO
O
OEt
OO
H
HH
ChemicalConversions
Microbial process
Artemisinin
O
O
O
OO
H
HH
Microbial synthesis
Purification
Artesunate
O
O
H
H HH
OO
OH
OOH
OO
O
H
H HH
OO
OH
O
OH
ArtelinateArteetherArtemether
O
O
OMe
OO
H
HHO
O
OEt
OO
H
HH
ChemicalConversions
Microbial synthesis of artemisinin
Improvements in yield lower
artemisinin costs
Current cost of API $1.00/g
Cost with new process $.10/g
Research, Development & Delivery
Keasling Laboratory
Amyris Biotechnologies
Global Warming and
Energy Security
Petroleum-based transportation fuelsCO2
Corn to Ethanol
CO2
CO2
Corn to Ethanol
CO2
CO2
CO2
CO2
Corn to Ethanol
Corn is not an ideal energy crop
• Water requirements• Fertilizer requirements• Bred to be a food crop
CO2
CO2
Biomass to Ethanol
US annual biomass inventory 1.3 billion tons
Forest12.8%
Urban waste2.9%
Manure4.1%
Grains5.2%
Crop residues7.6%
Soy6.2%
Wheat straw6.1%Corn stover
19.9%
Perennial crops35.2%
From: Billion ton Vision, DOE & USDA 2005
5
6
7
Bill
ion
Bar
rels
of O
il Eq
uiva
lent
s
0
1
2
3
4
2007 US Imports
2007 US Domestic Production
Fuel yields from biomass using mid-term conversion technology
Energy from burning biomass4.4
2.51.9
3.5
How much fuel can we produce from 1.3 billion tons of biomass?
2007 US PetroleumConsumption7.6
CO2
CO2
Biomass to Ethanol
Ethanol is not an ideal fuel
Repurposing a microbial production platform
Repurposing a microbial production platform
Biofuel
Engineered microbes produce oil and advanced biofuels
Biomass to advanced transportation fuels
CO2
CO2
The Joint BioEnergy Institute (jbei)
CO2
CO2
jbei: a Bay Area Partnership
jbei’s Research Program
CO2
CO2
jbei: a single location
jbei: an incubator for great ideas and the green economy
Biofuels Companies
Feedstock Companies
Chemical Companies
Petroleum Companies
Plant Genetics
Companies
Biotech Companies